In the last two years the most common type of emergency experienced by NSW, VIC, QLD and the ACT households was storm, wind or hail according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The ABS publication Household Preparedness for Emergencies, NSW, Vic., Qld and ACT, October 2007 reports on the experiences of households who had a recent emergency and the steps households had taken in preparing for emergencies. Some selected highlights include:

In the last two years, the ACT had the highest percentage of households (18%) who had experienced an emergency followed by NSW (12%), QLD (10%) and VIC (8%).

Close to a quarter of households who experienced an emergency contacted emergency services. (VIC 24%, NSW 21%, ACT 17% and QLD 15%).

Approximately half of QLD, NSW and VIC households and over a third of ACT households who experienced an emergency implemented changes for better emergency preparedness.

Smoke alarms were the most common safety precaution. Nearly 100% of homes had a smoke alarm installed (VIC 97%, NSW 94%, QLD 94% and the ACT 90%).

A written or rehearsed emergency plan was the least common safety precaution implemented by households in VIC (15%), ACT (15%) and NSW (13%). In QLD the two least implemented precautions in homes were fire blankets (19%) and a written or rehearsed emergency plan (20%).

One in three households did not keep emergency phone numbers in a location for ease of use (QLD 39%, ACT 38%, NSW 36% and VIC 30%).

Nearly one-fifth of all households had at least one household member who would have difficulties evacuating the home without help in an emergency.

Further details are available in Household Preparedness for Emergencies: NSW, Vic., Qld and ACT, October 2007 (cat. no. 4818.0.55.001) and available for free download from the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>.